Letter: Ashamed of PAYT protesters and those who didn't bother

When my wife and I joined the demonstrators against PAYT at Government Center on Tuesday, we were shocked and disappointed by what we saw: People holding hand written signs that contained messages and language not appropriate for the occasion.

When my wife and I joined the demonstrators against PAYT at Government Center on Tuesday, we were shocked and disappointed by what we saw: People holding hand written signs that contained messages and language not appropriate for the occasion.

The “F” word could be seen in one of the signs that I considered an insult. Most insulting was the lack of respect and insensitivity for the families present at the demonstration.

Besides the lack of judgment, we also saw some demonstrators holding signs asking for Mayor Will Flanagan’s recall, which, in our view, was also not appropriate for the occasion. When the demonstration was called, it was to demonstrate against the PAYT and the new fees that the city wants to impose on private haulers doing business in this city for a long time.

We believe that the leaders of the demonstration definitely misled us when they called people to join them. They were opportunists who took advantage of those of us who acted in good faith to forward their political agenda.

Shame on them for that, because next time, instead of 50 people demonstrating, they will have only a few radicals who are always ready to show off.

Our hope for a large number of demonstrators was vanished as soon as we got there, and our disappointment grew even more due to lack of interest demonstrated by Fall River residents.

Where are those who on a daily basis complain about city business? Where are those who on a daily basis keep on calling radio stations, Portuguese and English stations, to complain about the new trash pickup system? Where were you?

After one hour of witnessing this, we decided that it was time to go home and do the same as the majority of Fall River residents did: Go on with our lives and forget about PAYT. We can live with it.